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In the Eye of the Beholder
In a modern Beauty and the Beast retelling Beau Nicholls is a freelance photographer. She finds herself in need of a temporary job to pay the bills. In desperation, she takes a housekeeping position for a disabled recluse. The recluse in question, Felix Astor, does not want her help, but his cousin hires her anyway.
They quickly discover they don’t get along very well.
Felix has a dark past filled with both physical and mental scars. He struggles to let people close to him. Beau was raised by a mother who didn’t understand her and a father who didn’t really try. She doesn’t know how to let anyone but her friends close to her. They must learn to trust and love.
They quickly discover they don’t get along very well.
Felix has a dark past filled with both physical and mental scars. He struggles to let people close to him. Beau was raised by a mother who didn’t understand her and a father who didn’t really try. She doesn’t know how to let anyone but her friends close to her. They must learn to trust and love.
174 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 20, 2024
1 person is currently reading
25 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
September 15, 2025
CW: Emotional Abuse, Domestic Abuse, Toxic Relationship, Fatphobia, Alcoholism, Attempted Sexual Assault
5 / 5 Stars
This book was basically tailor-made for me. Like, I can’t imagine a single universe where I didn’t adore it with everything that I am. I even made a short list of things it has going for it that I love, and while I know a bunch of bullet points don’t always equal a good book, lucky for us, this one does. Especially because it has lovable characters and a sweet, wholesome romance at its core.
Best of all? No silly, contrived third-act breakup. There’s one fight, sure, but it actually makes sense for the characters, and it isn’t born out of the classic “if only they had communicated better uwu” nonsense. Is it obvious yet that I hate when books force conflict into the third act just because it’s expected? You can tell a compelling story without making your main couple look like they’d be better off with literally anyone else. Your book can have a satisfying conclusion without requiring your leads to hand their brain cells over to the cat for the afternoon. And this book is proof of that.
Okay, let’s talk ace rep before I explode. I adored it. I’m a sex-repulsed ace myself, and it means so much to me to see fellow sex-repulsed aces finding simple joy and happiness. To find someone who loves and accepts them as they are. Not forcing them to endure, but embracing because they love and care (and adu1tfinetime is really not not important in the grand schme of things). And ooooooh, did this book deliver all that and more. Not only is it Ace4Ace — it’s repulsed Ace4Ace. aakdjföadsjflks.
Sorry. I swear I can be a Serious Reviewer™ when I want to. But sometimes I find a book that makes me feel like a cup of warm chocolate on a cold winter day, and this was one of them.
There’s also plus-size rep. Plus-size ace rep. Which deserves an extra shoutout because I need more of that in my life. Greetings — from a plus-size ace person. I just felt so seen. It honestly felt like the author sat down and went, “My target audience is Martina. If Martina is happy, this book is a success.” And let me tell you: I’m very happy.
Also: the cat. The cat is so cool. So often, books toss in animals only to forget about them. Cats, dogs, whatever — they usually end up being accessories to the real characters. But not here. No. The cat is very much his own person, and that just adds even more cherries to the army of cherries on top of this fictional cake.
I’m sure I’m forgetting a dozen things I wanted to fangirl about, so here’s the short version:
♥ Beauty & The Beast retelling
♥ Ace4Ace
♥ Plus-size ace rep
♥ Sex-repulsed ace x sex-repulsed ace
♥A cat who’s an actual character, not a plot device
♥ Wholesome, healthy romance
Final Thoughts:
Pick it up. Do it. You can thank me later. :)
5 / 5 Stars
This book was basically tailor-made for me. Like, I can’t imagine a single universe where I didn’t adore it with everything that I am. I even made a short list of things it has going for it that I love, and while I know a bunch of bullet points don’t always equal a good book, lucky for us, this one does. Especially because it has lovable characters and a sweet, wholesome romance at its core.
Best of all? No silly, contrived third-act breakup. There’s one fight, sure, but it actually makes sense for the characters, and it isn’t born out of the classic “if only they had communicated better uwu” nonsense. Is it obvious yet that I hate when books force conflict into the third act just because it’s expected? You can tell a compelling story without making your main couple look like they’d be better off with literally anyone else. Your book can have a satisfying conclusion without requiring your leads to hand their brain cells over to the cat for the afternoon. And this book is proof of that.
Okay, let’s talk ace rep before I explode. I adored it. I’m a sex-repulsed ace myself, and it means so much to me to see fellow sex-repulsed aces finding simple joy and happiness. To find someone who loves and accepts them as they are. Not forcing them to endure, but embracing because they love and care (and adu1tfinetime is really not not important in the grand schme of things). And ooooooh, did this book deliver all that and more. Not only is it Ace4Ace — it’s repulsed Ace4Ace. aakdjföadsjflks.
Sorry. I swear I can be a Serious Reviewer™ when I want to. But sometimes I find a book that makes me feel like a cup of warm chocolate on a cold winter day, and this was one of them.
There’s also plus-size rep. Plus-size ace rep. Which deserves an extra shoutout because I need more of that in my life. Greetings — from a plus-size ace person. I just felt so seen. It honestly felt like the author sat down and went, “My target audience is Martina. If Martina is happy, this book is a success.” And let me tell you: I’m very happy.
Also: the cat. The cat is so cool. So often, books toss in animals only to forget about them. Cats, dogs, whatever — they usually end up being accessories to the real characters. But not here. No. The cat is very much his own person, and that just adds even more cherries to the army of cherries on top of this fictional cake.
I’m sure I’m forgetting a dozen things I wanted to fangirl about, so here’s the short version:
♥ Beauty & The Beast retelling
♥ Ace4Ace
♥ Plus-size ace rep
♥ Sex-repulsed ace x sex-repulsed ace
♥A cat who’s an actual character, not a plot device
♥ Wholesome, healthy romance
Final Thoughts:
Pick it up. Do it. You can thank me later. :)
April 16, 2025
A contemporary, ace-queer Beauty and the Beast retelling sounded good to me, I had to read this!
And... I got only mildly disappointed, and not by the story itself. The story and its characters are great, the setting is plausible, the side-characters are (mostly) wonderful - special appreciation of the drag queens here! -, and there is also an adorable cat.
The representation of asexuality, as well as that of various other queer groups - and drag queens - is respectful, genuine, and really well done.
Making Beauty and the Beast modern and putting it in a contemporary setting worked out much better than I would have expected it to (I frankly thought this will eventually roll over into a(n urban) fantasy story - it does not). That said, for all those who despise retellings: it's more reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast than an actual retelling. Personally I would rather say 'heavily inspired by' than calling it a retelling.
My minor qualms are with the writing style, which is much more simplistic than most books I have read lately, so it took me a while to adapt to it; it reminds me more of the writing style for Middle Grade, unfortunately the book itself does not exactly a prime fit for that age group (although it might work for some MG readers, I'd have read it as a kid). But, it was readable and even enjoyable, after I got into the change of style. There have also been quite a number of typos - of which I informed the author - and a few minor editing mishaps.
Do those impact the enjoyment of the story? The style did for me, in the beginning; once I got used to it, it was fine - albeit not being my usually preferred style. The rest? I noticed it, I pointed it out, it did not dampen my overall enjoyment of the story. It also does not magically make this quite interesting and lovely story a bad one.
All in all this has been an enjoyable read, despite its minor flaws. I can recommend this story to everyone who can graciously overlook some technical mishaps and enjoy a Beauty and the Beast inspired contemporary ace-romance.
And... I got only mildly disappointed, and not by the story itself. The story and its characters are great, the setting is plausible, the side-characters are (mostly) wonderful - special appreciation of the drag queens here! -, and there is also an adorable cat.
The representation of asexuality, as well as that of various other queer groups - and drag queens - is respectful, genuine, and really well done.
Making Beauty and the Beast modern and putting it in a contemporary setting worked out much better than I would have expected it to (I frankly thought this will eventually roll over into a(n urban) fantasy story - it does not). That said, for all those who despise retellings: it's more reminiscent of Beauty and the Beast than an actual retelling. Personally I would rather say 'heavily inspired by' than calling it a retelling.
My minor qualms are with the writing style, which is much more simplistic than most books I have read lately, so it took me a while to adapt to it; it reminds me more of the writing style for Middle Grade, unfortunately the book itself does not exactly a prime fit for that age group (although it might work for some MG readers, I'd have read it as a kid). But, it was readable and even enjoyable, after I got into the change of style. There have also been quite a number of typos - of which I informed the author - and a few minor editing mishaps.
Do those impact the enjoyment of the story? The style did for me, in the beginning; once I got used to it, it was fine - albeit not being my usually preferred style. The rest? I noticed it, I pointed it out, it did not dampen my overall enjoyment of the story. It also does not magically make this quite interesting and lovely story a bad one.
All in all this has been an enjoyable read, despite its minor flaws. I can recommend this story to everyone who can graciously overlook some technical mishaps and enjoy a Beauty and the Beast inspired contemporary ace-romance.
August 3, 2025
Beauty and the beast retelling and you just make him black? Decent ace rep, TERRIBLE black rep. Honestly I hope this white woman never writes a black character ever again! Aside from that, the writing was a total bore and the characters were flat and unrealistic. I’d give this zero stars if I could.
March 20, 2025
Love the representation in this book
May 13, 2025
Wonderful little story about two people finding each other!
Also a very cute cat!
Also a very cute cat!
July 25, 2025
Honestly loved this! The main character was so relatable and made my heart full!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews